Summary

  • Simon Yates wins second stage of 2019 Tour

  • Thomas gains time on leader Alaphilippe

  • Pinot second, Landa third - 33secs behind

  • Mountainous 185km route from Limoux to Foix, Prat d'Albis

  • First time Prat d'Albis has been used in Tour

  • Use the play icon to listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra (online only)

Live Reporting

  1. Damiano Caruso was joined by three other riders briefly but Nicolas Roche has driven the peloton back up to their tail now.

  2. Geraint Thomas, speaking to ITV4 before the start of stage 15: "It's never nice to not feel the best but I made the right call at the end to ride my own pace and not blow up on the hardest part of the climb.

    "I'll keep fighting, keep working hard and there is a lot of bike racing to come, a lot can still happen.

    "Maybe yesterday wasn't one of our greatest days but there is a lot more still to come. It was a good day for Jumbo-Visma and FDJ. It will be an interesting final week.

    "I guess you'd think a long, hard day would be the best way to get rid of Julian Alaphilippe but it didn't work. If that was my bad day, then it was quite a good day but we won't know until the end - I could lose three minutes today. We'll see.

    "Everyone is going to struggle at some point, it's just how you get through it. That's what makes a Grand Tour so challenging - a lot is going to change between now and Paris."

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  4. Caruso attacks

    The peloton are approaching the lower slopes of the Col de Montsegur. There are some sections of over 8% gradient towards the top, which could split the race.

    Bahrain-Merida's Damian Caruso has attacked solo off the front and will try to get to the summit alone, or with a smaller group that might make it across.

  5. 140km to go

    There have been endless attacks and counter-attacks in a frenzied start to this stage.

    No break has been allowed to form.

    But the high pace has spat riders out of the back, most notably Tim Wellens in the polka dot jersey, who is in a group of 30 riders about a minute down on the big leading bunch.

    If Wellens can't make it back he could lose that jersey today, with a large mount of king of the mountains points on offer.

  6. Stage 15 profile

    Here is what the peloton is tackling today.

    A category two climb early on, followed by three sharp category one climbs in a one, culminating at a summit finish on the Prat d'Albis in Foix.

    It's the first time the Prat d'Albis has even been used in the Tour de France. An unknown quantity perhaps - who will conquer it?

    Stage 15 profileTour de France

  7. GC after stage 14

    1. Julian Alaphilippe (Fra/Deceuninck Quick-Step) 56hrs 11min 29secs
    2. Geraint Thomas (GB/Team Ineos) +2min 2secs
    3. Steven Kruijswijk (Ned/Jumbo-Visma) +2mins 14secs
    4. Egan Bernal (Col/Team Ineos) +3mins
    5. Emanuel Buchmann (Ger/Bora-Hansgrohe) +3mins 12secs
    6. Thibaut Pinot (Fra/Groupama-FDJ) +3mins 12secs
    7. Rigoberto Uran (Col/EF Education First) +4mins 24secs
    8. Jakob Fuglsang (Den/Astana Pro Team) +5mins 22secs
    9. Alejandro Valverde (Spa/Movistar) +5mins 27secs
    10. Enric Mas (Spa/Deceuninck Quick-Step) +5mins 38secs

  8. And beware Steven Kruijswijk, the Dutchman is putting together a fine race, solid through every discipline so far.

    It was also interesting, if unsurprising, to see Team Ineos let Egan Bernal go and not hold back to help Geraint Thomas yesterday.

    The Colombian is a supreme talent and there is no need to limit him - but how costly will that relatively poor time trial on Friday prove?

    Emanuel Buchmann and Rigoberto Uran are still in contention too. Can anyone land a decisive blow today?

  9. I actually missed yesterday's stage because I went to see Kraftwerk.

    That counts as research though, right? Tour de France, Radio Tour information, Transmission television.

    Anyway, I caught up with the highlights and, well, I think we're in store for one of the most enthralling final weeks in recent Tour history. After a bit of a slow start, this one has really picked up.

    What panache from Thibaut Pinot to win the stage and Julian Alaphilippe is a force of nature. Could we see a first French Tour winner since 1985 this year?

  10. Bonjour

    Julian Alaphilippe has no time for your assertions he will surely crack soon.

    The Frenchman continues to defy expectations, extending his lead in the yellow jersey with another tremendous ride on the Tourmalet yesterday.

    Defending champion Geraint Thomas lost time and needs to regain it soon - not just on Alaphilippe but his other GC rivals, who are moving closer to prime position to take over if Alaphilippe does start to fade.

    A rest day tomorrow and an absolutely vital final day in the Pyrenees today.